City clocks snapped up

Two of Lichfield's oldest surviving clocks - made by rival clockmakers - fetched a lot more than expected when they were sold at a London auction.

The early 18th century bracket clocks were expected to fetch just £7,500 together at the Bonhams auction yesterday.

But the first rare 250-year old clock fetched £18,000 - more than three times its pre-sale estimate - with the second bracket clock, made in the mid 1700s, fetching £2,880 - slightly more than its expected price of £2,500.

Before the sale Bonhams clocks expert James Stratton had said in 13 years he had not had a Lichfield clock, and then like buses two came along at once.

The first clock, a walnut quarter repeating bracket clock, was expected to sell between £3,000 and £5,000, and in the end was snapped up by a mystery bidder.

Little was known about its maker, James Rose, except he died in 1750. The second clock was made by Lichfield craftsman John Smallwood.

"It is not known whether James Rose and John Smallwood knew each other or whether they were Lichfield rivals," said a spokesman.

"But it is an unusual coincidence that two similar clocks made within a few years of each other by men from the same town should come up for sale."